i just wanted to tell everyone, that i got the display working. there is still much for me to do. cleaning up the code and doing the setup again with a proper voltage regulator as pointed out by massimo. the diode-method works, but i'm not satisfied with the contrast and dirtiness of this solution.

the main problem still is that the code to use the display is quite big. i managed to interface a joystick with the same board, to control a cursor. every further processing has to be done externally on another board or a computer. so goodbye DIY arduino gameboy :-)

there seem to be lots of pages describing how to hook one of these 3310 lcd's up but can anyone give me some pointers on how to go about to physically connect the darned thing? I followed the procedure on this page: http://www.microsyl.com/nokialcd/nokialcd.html , but simply couldn't get those wires soldered to the tiny connector! And made 2 of those little bits come off so now I need to look for another one

read the thread. it's basically all in there. the way i did it ( and how it worked for me) was basically like on the diagram and in the code. you just have to make sure that the voltage is around 3,3V max on the dipsplay.

i'd really like to help you more. But i gave away my prototype (it was a gift) and back then i didn't think it was necessary to document it... well.

i still have some displays around. i hope i'll find the time to do it again.

maybe I wasn't clear. My question is: how do you manage to physically connect wires to those teeny weeny small connectors on the display? I tried soldering wires directly on to them and I failed miserably, destroying 2 connectors (or rather 2 "pins", out of the 8 on the bottom/back of the display).

Are there connectors for sale somewhere that you can snap on that are easier to solder wires onto? If not, what's the trick to solder wires onto the display's connector?

I got 2 new 3310 lcd's off of ebay, for about 1$ each. Pretty cheap but would hate to ruin them as well

i know that there are at least to versions of the same display around. one is designed to be placed with its contacts on some conducting rubber. the contacts on those are _not_ solderable, or at least not as far as i know. you can buy this "conductive rubber" and put it between the display and a custom pcb. it is not at all cheap but you only need half of a sq.centimetre. and i once saw someone offering these small pieces on ebay.

the displays i have all come from a 3310. its contacts are small copper springs. they're small but i had no problems soldering them since it's copper.